Bookmark



Patented Mar. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOOKMARK Carl Wilhelm Johnson, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application August 4, 1952, Serial No. 302,458

2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in bookmarks and has for an object thereof to provide a simple, durable, inexpensive and efiicient article for marking any page in a book and for marking any line of print on such page and any word in such line to which attention is to be directed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bookmark, of the nature above indicated, constructed in a manner to afford a relatively large unbroken surface for the display of matter as for advertising or decorative purposes.

In attaining the foregoing and other objects ofmy invention, I employ a mounting strip and an indicator piece slidably mounted thereon, both being constructed of relatively stifi sheet material. A terminal portion of the mounting strip at the top of the body portion of said strip is formed with a slit beginning and ending at a line transversely of the strip between said terminal and body portions thereof. This slit defines in said terminal portion a keeper-flap which is adapted to be turned back on said line for insertion between pages of a book other than the pages between which the body portion of the strip is placed as a page mark-er. Said slit in said terminal portion of the mounting strip further defines therein an index member which extends upwardly from the body portion of the strip to show the location of said body portion Within a book.

The body portion of the mounting strip is formed with a pair of slits therein extending longitudinally thereof, said slits ending short of the top and bottom of said body portion and providing an intermediate track and marginal tracks at either side thereof, the entire front surface or face of said body portion being left substantially unbroken for the reception thereover of matter for advertising, decorative or other purposes.

The indicator piece is formed with a pair of slits at either side thereof, each pair of slits extending inward from its respective side edge of said piece. These slits define in the indicator piece a central section from which extend horizontally opposed fingers and vertically opposed tabs, said fingers and tabs being adapted to be interlaced with the tracks of the mounting strip so that the central section of the indicator piece will override the intermediate track and the side portions of the tabs will override, respectively, the marginal tracks, and the fingers of said indicator will underride, respectively, the said marginal tracks of said mounting strip. The fingers of the indicator extend beyond their respective side edges of the body portion of the mounting strip to mark for attention any selected line of print on a marked page and any selected word in such line. The tabs of the indicator provide finger-pieces by means of which the indicator piece may be grasped and slid up or down along the body portion of the mounting strip.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational face view of a bookmark constructed in accordance with my invention, the same being shown as applied toa book.

Fig. 2 is an elevational edge View of the bookmark and book shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational detail view of the mounting strip with the keeper-flap thereon extended from the body portion thereof.

Fig. 4 is an elevational detail view of the indicator which is applied to said mounting strip for sliding adjustment thereon.

The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing consists of a mounting strip A and an indicator B slidably mounted thereon for adjustment therealong. Each of these elements is formed from any suitable relatively stiff sheet material such, for example, as thin paper board, heavy paper or the like.

The mounting strip A includes a body portion In and an upper terminal portion II in continuation of said body portion. Said terminal portion ll, intermediate its side edges, has a slit I2 formed therein. This slit starts and ends as on a line l3 extending transversely of the strip A between said body and terminal portions [0, ll thereof. This slit I2 may be of inverted V- shape, as shown, or other suitable shape to define for one thing in said terminal portion II, an index stub 14 extending upwardly from the body portion ill of the mounting stripA and to define, for another thing, a keeper-flap l5 adapted to be turned back on the body portion ll! of the strip A, on said line [3. Said body portion ill of said strip A has a pair of parallel slits I6 formed. therein longitudinally thereof, the same starting near one end of said body portion in and ending near the other end thereof. Said slits l6 define in said body portion I0 an intermediate track I! and a pair of marginal tracks 18, one at either side of said intermediate track. Said intermediate track I! overlies the extremity of the keeperflap I5 in the backfolded position thereof, as shown in Fig. 2.

The indicator B consists of a piece of the sheet material, suitably such as that employed in the construction of the mounting strip A, said piece of material having a pair of horizontal slits IS in each side portion thereof extending inwardly from its respective side edge of the piece. The

upper slits I9 lie in alignment with each other stopping short of each other at their inner ends and so also do the lower slits l9. These slits I9 define in said indicator piece 13 a central section 20 and horizontally opposed fingers 2| at either side of said central section, said fingers, preferably being pointed. Said slits l9 additionally define in said indicator piece B vertically opposed tabs 22 above and beneath said central section 20.

Applying the indicator piece B to the body portion of the mounting strip A, the side portions 23 of the tabs 22 on said piece and the fingers 2! thereof are interlaced with the tracks ll, 18, slidably to mount the indicator B thereon. Mounted on said tracks ll, K8, the indicator B, at its central section 29, overrides the intermediate track 11, while the side portions 23 of the tabs 22 override their respective marginal track 18 and the fingers 2i underride their respective marginal tracks It.

The tabs 22 provide upper and lower fingerpieces by which the indicator B can be conveniently grasped at the face of the intermediate track H and shifted up or down from one position to another along the body portion 19 of the strip A. The arrangement by which the central section 20 of the indicator B overrides the intermediate track H which, in turn, overlies the extremity of the fold keeper-flap l5, avoids any interference with the shifting of the indicator past the locality of the said extremity of th said folded keeper-flap l5.

In use, the body portion H) of the mounting strip A is placed in a book, as at C, between confronting pages of the book to mark the page against which said body portion is backed, and the keeper-flap 15 of said strip A, turned back on the body portion i thereof, is placed between other pages of the book. To mark a selected line of print on the page of the book which is marked by the body portion H! of the strip A, the indicator B is shifted along said body portion It to bring the points of the fingers 2! into registry with such line. And to mark a selected word in such line of print, the mounting strip A is appropriately shifted sidewise one way or the other relative to the marked page to bring the point of one or the other of said fingers 21 into registry with such selected word.

Having closed the book in which the bookmark has been placed, the index stub i4, upwardly projecting from the body portion H] of the strip A, will direct attention to the position occupied by said body portion l0 within the book.

.A significant feature of the invention resides in the construction wherein no portion of the sheet material within the confines of the mounting strip is cut out and wasted. This feature, without cost, endows the structure with strength and durability. And, more importantly, in an article used for advertising purposes or made up for esthetic appeal, said feature provides a relatively large and substantially unbroken area or surface for advertising or decorative matter.

Changes in the specific form of the invention, as herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described the claimed as new and desired Letters Patent is:

1. In a bookmark, a mounting strip of relatively stiff sheet material having an elongated body portion adapted to be inserted uprightly beinvention, what is to be protected by tween confronting pages of a book to mark one of such pages, said strip having an upper terminal portion continuing from said body portion and formed with a slit therein beginning and ending at a line transversely of the strip between said portions thereof, said slit defining in said terminal portion an index stub extending upwardly from said body portion and a keeper flap adapted to be folded back on said line and inserted between other pages of the book, said body portion of said strip having two parallel slits therein longitudinally thereof, said slits defining in said body portion an intermediate track and a marginal track at either side thereof, said intermediate track overlying the extremity of the folded keeper-flap, said body portion providing a substantially unbroken surface coextensive therewith for display purposes, an indicator slidably mounted on said body portion of said strip and adapted to be adjusted longitudinally thereof, said indicator consisting of a piece of relatively stiff sheet material, each side portion thereof having therein a pair of horizontal slits extending inwardly from its respective side edge, said slits defining in said indicator piece a central follower section and a pair of opposed tabs, one tab extending upwardly from said follower section and the other extending downwardly therefrom, said slits further defining in said indicator piece a pair of opposed fingers, one finger extending outwardly from one side of said follower section and the second finger extending outwardly from the other side of said section, said slitted indicator piece being adapted to be interlaced with the slitted body portion of the mounting strip with the follower section of the former overriding said intermediate track of the body portion of said strip and with said fingers underriding the said marginal tracks and with the side portions of said tabs overriding said marginal tracks, said tabs providing fingerpieces for sliding the indicator along said tracks, said fingers of the indicator projecting beyond their respective marginal tracks for registry, selectively, with a selected word of a selected line of print on the page of the book marked by said body portion of said strip.

2. In a bookmark, a mounting strip of relatively stiff sheet material having an elongated body portion adapted to be inserted uprightly between confronting pages of a book to mark one of such pages, said strip having an upper terminal portion in continuation of said body portion. said terminal portion of said strip providing a keeper flap adapted to be folded back on a line transversely of said strip between said portions thereof for insertion between other pages of the book, said body portion of said strip having two parallel slits therein longitudinally thereof, said slits defining in said body portion an intermediate track and a marginal track at either side thereof, said intermediate track overlying the extremity of the folded keeper-flap, said body portion providing a substantially unbroken surface coextensive therewith for display purposes, an indicator slidably mounted on said body portion of said strip and adapted to be adjusted longitudinally thereof, said indicator consisting of a piece of relatively stiff sheet material, each side portion thereof having therein a pair of horizontal slits extending inwardly from its respective side edge, said slits defining in said indicator piece a central follower section and a pair of opposed tabs, one tab extending upwardly from said follower section and the other extending downwardly therefrom, said slits further defining in said indicator piece a pair of opposed fingers, one finger extending outwardly from one side of said follower section and the second finger extending outwardly from the other side of said section,

said slitted indicator piece being adapted to be interlaced with the slitted body portion of the mounting strip with the follower section of the former overriding said intermediate track of the body portion of said strip and with said fingers underriding the said marginal tracks and with the intermediate and side portions of said tabs overriding said intermediate and marginal tracks,

respectively, said intermediate portions of said tabs providing finger-pieces capable of being conveniently grasped at the face of said intermediate track, for sliding the indicator along said tracks, at least one of said fingers of the indicator projecting beyond its respective marginal track for registry, selectively, with a selected word of a selected line of print on the page of the book marked by said body portion of said strip.

CARL WILHELM JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 168,395 Harris Oct. 5, 1875 1,008,481 Lopes Nov. 14, 1911 1,232,116 Stechan July 3, 1917 2,543,182 Long Feb. 27, 1951 

